Tag Archive: cardiac intensive care unit

The Findings:

A cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) filled with tiny infants connected to collections of tubes and buzzing monitors can be an intimidating and overwhelming place for a mother who is worried about her newborn with congenital heart disease (CHD). A Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia team of nurse researchers conducted a qualitative study in which mothers of babies who have a complex heart condition described the post-diagnostic period, surgery, and the CICU stay as extremely stressful. The researchers also examined mothers’ coping mechanisms, and they identified mindfulness as a potential helpful early intervention tool to reduce mothers’ stress.